Hospital Management in Infectious Disease Outbreak: Lessons Learned From COVID-19 Epidemic

Background: Biological events, including epidemics, pandemics, and emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, have significant adverse consequences on human health. Hospitals have a major role in the management of outbreaks and mitigation of their consequences. During pandemics, health systems, especially hospitals, are affected. The current study aims to collect and analyze hospital lessons learned during the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran. Materials and Methods: The study data were collected through document analysis, direct observation, and taking the opinions of an expert panel (including hospital chiefs, hospital managers, disaster committee managers, matrons, and other hospital staff) at hospitals involved with coronavirus patients. Results: The practical measures performed in Iran hospitals included the development of the hospital incident command system, screening and triage, establishing a call center, patient and family management, personnel management, volunteers management, education, planning, safety, environmental health, dead patients management, sampling, food hygiene of staff and patients, coordination and cooperation, sharing information, home treatment and care, infection prevention, and control and isolation. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has significant adverse consequences on human health, hospital, and medical staff. During COVID-19, hospitals will face a high surge in suspected and confirmed patients. Therefore, hospitals should perform the proper measures to manage an emergency.